Legislative Alert: March 17, 2025

President's Message

One-House Budgets Include Important Priorities for Working Families

The New York State Senate and Assembly released their one-house state budget proposals and resolutions last week, setting the stage for negotiations on a final budget over the next several weeks. While there are many differences between each of these two versions and the executive budget proposal, we applaud both houses for prioritizing many of the issues that are important to the labor movement.

A key focus of the one-house proposals is the inclusion of a more equitable revenue policy that would increase tax rates for high earners while preserving vital public services. This issue is a priority for the New York State AFL-CIO and our affiliates. As we move through the budget process and further into the year, we will continue advocating to protect our public services, infrastructure, and workforce.

Both one-house budget proposals also address significant needs in the unemployment system. We strongly urge the Governor and both houses to agree on a plan to create parity in the eligibility waiting period for union members on strike with all other unemployment claimants, and a plan to establish a fairer eligibility system for education employees. The Senate and Assembly included these provisions in their one-house proposals, and we urge the Governor to support this effort.

Both houses recognize the need for clearer policy regarding prevailing wage and labor standards requirements for projects that receive public funding. The one-house proposals include updates to Section 224 of the Labor Law that clarify which projects are covered and eliminate roadblocks that prevent the application of the labor standards. This should also be addressed in the final agreement.

The State must prioritize improving worker safety in work zones where road and bridge improvements and construction occur. We cannot delay the expansion of camera enforcement and more aggressive repercussions for the repeat violators who endanger the workforce that keeps our roads safe and our infrastructure running smoothly. These workers endure hazardous conditions for our safety; we must protect them by enacting these policies in the final budget.

Mario Cilento, President

Upcoming Meeting

LABOR LOBBYISTS MEETING 
Monday, March 24, 2025, 1:00 p.m. 
This event will be located at the Albany office of the NYS AFL-CIO, 
100 South Swan St. Albany, NY. 
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli will be the guest speaker. 
This meeting is for labor representatives only.